Descriptions of the Sahaabah Radhiallaahu ‘Anhum

Descriptions of the Sahaabah Radhiallaahu ‘Anhum

“He was white-skinned, skinny, with thin cheeks. He had a wrinkly face, deep-set eyes, a protruding forehead, and he would dye his beard with henna and oil it.”

“He was white or yellow-skinned, handsome, with thin legs. His izar (lower garment) would not stay firmly tied around his waist.”

Imaam As-Suyooti relates through Ibn Sa`d’s report from Hadhrat `Aa’isha Radhiallaahu `Anhaa her description of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Radhiallaahu `Anhu: “He was a man with fair skin, thin, emaciated, with a sparse beard, a slightly hunched frame, sunken eyes and protruding forehead, and the bases of his fingers were hairless.”

2 – Hadhrat ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He was white-skinned, leaning towards redness. He was tall, balding, and had white hair around his head.”

“He was very tall, and extremely bald. He had reddened skin, thin cheeks, and the edges of his mustache were long and dark red.”

“He would walk so fast that it was as if he was riding a horse while those around him were walking.”

“He used to dye his hair with henna.”

Ibn Sa’d and al-Haakim have recorded a description of Hadhrat ‘Umar Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu as Abu Miriam Zir, a native of Kufa described him. Zir said:

“I went forth with the people of Madinah on a festival day, and I saw ‘Umar walking barefoot. He was advanced in years, bald, of a tawny colour, a left handed man, tall, and towering above the people.”

” ‘Umar Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu was ambidextrous; he could use both his hands equally well.”

Ibn ‘Asaakir records on the authority of Abu Raja al-U’taridi that:

“’Umar (Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu) was a man tall, stout, very bald, very ruddy with scanty hair on the cheeks, his moustaches large, and the ends thereof reddish.”

3 – Hadhrat ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He was not tall or short. He had a handsome face, a long beard, dark skin, wide shoulders, and he would dye his hair with saffron. He would cap teeth with gold.”

‘Abdullaah ibn Hazm said: “I saw ‘Uthmaan (Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu), and I never saw a man or woman more beautiful than him.”

`Uthmaan (Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu) was neither tall nor short, extremely handsome, brown hair, large-jointed, wide-shouldered, with a large beard which he dyed yellow and long hair which reached to his shoulders.

As-Sa’ib said: “I saw him dying his beard yellow, and I never saw an old man more handsome than him.”

4 – Hadhrat ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib Radhiallahu ‘Anhu:

“He was balding, but had much hair left, as if he was wearing a sheepskin. He was of medium height, with a large belly and a large beard.”

“He had a yellow beard.”

“He dyed his beard with henna once, then he never used it again.”

“His hair and beard were white, like cotton.”

Ash-Sha’bi said: “I saw (Hadhrat) ‘Ali Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu with a white beard, and I never saw anyone with a larger beard then he.”

“He had heavyset, large eyes, and he was closer to being short.”

5 – Hadhrat Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarraah Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He was a skinny man, with a wrinkly face and a light beard. He was tall.”

”A handsome, pleasant, well-spoken man with a tall, slim physique and bright sharp eyes, he was an image of grace” He was the Ameen of this Ummah

“He was thin, skinny faced, with a thin beard; he was tall and slightly stooped, and missing two front teeth”

Ibn S’ad narrates that it was said: There was not a person who was missing front teeth that was more handsome than (Hadhrat) Abu ‘Ubaydah (Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu).

6 – Hadhrat Mu’aadh ibn Jabal Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He was tall, with large eyes, white-skinned, with wrinkled skin.”

7 – Hadhrat ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He was thin, short, and did not dye his hair.”

“He was handsome and wise.”

8 – Hadhrat ‘Aa’ishah Radhiallaahu ‘Anhaa:

“She was white-skinned and beautiful.”

9 – Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He was fair-skinned, had wide shoulders, wide teeth, and he had braids in his hair.”

“He was white-skinned, thin, and had a red beard.”

10 – Hadhrat Mu’aawiyah Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He was tall, white-skinned, and handsome. When he laughed, his upper lip would move, and he would dye his hair.”

“He would dye his hair with saffron, and his beard was golden.”

11 – Hadhrat ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar Radhiallaahu ‘Anhumaa:

“He would dye his beard yellow.”

“He would dye his beard yellow until his clothing became wet with the dye. It was said to him: “You dye with yellow?” He replied: “I saw the Messenger of Allaah (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) doing so!””

12 – Hadhrat Al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali Radhiallaahu ‘Anhumaa:

“His hair and beard were extremely black.”

13 – Hadhrat ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas Radhiallaahu ‘Anhumaa:

“He was white-skinned, leaning towards yellow, tall, handsome, bright-faced, and he would dye his hair with henna.”

‘Ataa’ said: “I never see the full Moon of the 14th night of the month except that I remember the face of (Hadhrat) Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu).”

14 – Hadhrat Anas ibn Maalik Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

“He would wear a black turban that he would leave trailing behind him.”

15 – Hadhrat Al-Baraa Ibn Maalik Al-Ansaari Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

He was described as: ”His hair looked disheveled and his whole appearance was unkempt. He was thin and wiry with so little flesh on his bones that it was painful to look at him. Yet in single- handed combat he defeated and killed many opponents and in the thick of battle he was an outstanding fighter against the mushrikeen. He was so courageous and daring” This was the Warrior of the Ansaar, Al-Baraa (Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu)

16 – Hadhrat Jareer ibn ‘Abdillaah Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

”He was tall, handsome and attractive man and had a radiant face” It’s enough to know that he was known as ”The Yusuf of this Ummah” or ”The Second Yusuf”

17 – Hadhrat Khaalid ibn al-Waleed Radhiallaahu ‘Anhu:

”A strong and sturdy physique, tall stature, broad shoulders, dignified bearing and eagle-eyed” This was the Sword of Allah

Indeed, it’s rather rare to find descriptions of the sahaabah, even siyar a`laam an nubalaa does not have so many descriptions, most of these descriptions were translated by Abu Sabaayaa, and i searched through the biographies of many sahaabah to find the few descriptions that i added.